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Living in
Monroe.
About
Life in Monroe
Monroe functions as a practical residential hub for people working in or around Charlotte, positioned about 30 miles southeast with an average commute of roughly 30 minutes. Housing costs are noticeably lower than Charlotte proper—median home prices hover around $309,100 with median rent at $1,246 monthly—which explains much of the steady growth attracting younger families and professionals. The job market is reasonably healthy with unemployment at 3.9%, though most career advancement still requires tapping into Charlotte's larger economy.
Monroe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Foreign-Born
17.8%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
+23.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Monroe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Monroe, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (49.5%), and 27.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.9%
of households
Married Couples
46.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.86
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for NC
Rent, home values, and income in Monroe
In Monroe, home values are 7% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,994
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $352,279 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Monroe
Unemployment in Monroe is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Monroe Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.1 min avg
How Monroe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Monroe, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Monroe runs 61% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
529.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,333.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Monroe Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Union County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Union County, which includes Monroe, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $150,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2021 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,000 |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $161,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Union County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Union County, which includes Monroe, is typically good.
Median AQI
40
Union County, county-wide
Climate89°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Monroe has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.5"
Annual Snowfall
2.1"
Hot Days/Year
55
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
69
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
106
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 30°F | 3.93" |
| Feb | 57°F | 33°F | 3.30" |
| Mar | 64°F | 39°F | 4.10" |
| Apr | 74°F | 47°F | 3.66" |
| May | 81°F | 57°F | 3.58" |
| Jun | 88°F | 65°F | 4.63" |
| Jul | 91°F | 69°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 89°F | 68°F | 4.89" |
| Sep | 84°F | 61°F | 4.60" |
| Oct | 74°F | 49°F | 3.69" |
| Nov | 64°F | 38°F | 3.42" |
| Dec | 56°F | 33°F | 3.98" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Monroe
Monroe has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Atrium Health Union
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.9 mi away · Matthews
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Monroe
Monroe's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Monroe
Monroe has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
47 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
48 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
71 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
85 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Monroe
Union County Public Library
316 E Windsor St, Monroe
Cities Near Monroe
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Monroe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Monroe FAQ
Is Monroe, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Monroe's median rent is $1,246/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,540/year. Median home value is $309,100.
Is Monroe, North Carolina safe?⌄
Monroe's violent crime rate was 530 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2333 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Monroe, North Carolina?⌄
Monroe has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Monroe, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Monroe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,246/month and median household income is $72,540/year. The median home value is $309,100. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Monroe, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Monroe is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from